Hong Kong rents headed down in 2012

Rents in office, residential and industrial properties will fall, but retail rent will jump 12% in 2012, say property agents.

Hong Kong property rents, the most expensive in the world, will fall in the coming year amid a gloomy economic outlook. The decline will affect both commercial and residential sectors, though retail rents will buck the trend with strong growth next year.

Rents on Hong Kong’s prime office space, labelled as “grade-A”, will fall by 8% in 2012, while offices in so-called premium blocks such as Central and Admiralty will see their rental income tumbling...